Neeraj Chopra reaffirmed his status among the world’s javelin elite on Friday night (16) at the Jehour Doha Meeting, launching a sensational personal best and Indian national record of 90.23 metres at the Wanda Diamond League.
Chopra, the reigning world champion, wasted no time in making a statement at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium, opening with a commanding 88.44m to set the pace. But it was in the third round that the Olympic champion lit up the arena, sending his spear soaring to 90.23m — a mark that not only shattered his previous best of 89.94m set in 2022 but also earned him membership into the exclusive 90-metre club.
The feat made Chopra the 25th man in history to surpass the fabled distance, a testament to his growing dominance in the sport.
However, the night belonged to Germany’s Julian Weber, who, after trailing Chopra through much of the competition, saved his best for last. With his final throw, Weber unleashed a monumental 91.06m, overtaking Chopra and snatching victory in dramatic fashion. It marked a new personal best for the German and a world-leading mark for the season.
The gripping contest saw both men finally cross a barrier they had flirted with in recent seasons — Chopra’s previous best standing at 89.94m and Weber’s at 89.54m, both set in 2022. Their performances in Doha not only elevated them into the history books but also made the event the seventh occasion ever where two men breached 90 metres in a single competition.
Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada secured third place with a best throw of 85.64m.
In the all-time rankings, Weber now climbs to 17th place, while Chopra moves up to 24th, as the pair continue to etch their names into javelin history.
The world record in the event continues to be held by Chopra’s own coach, Jan Železný of the Czech Republic, whose monumental 98.48m throw in 1996 remains unbeaten.
In total, only 25 javelin throwers in history have crossed the 90m barrier, a list dominated by nations with rich javelin traditions — Germany (6), Finland (4), Czech Republic (2) — and a scattering of athletes from Grenada, Pakistan, Kenya, Russia, Greece, Norway, Great Britain, Chinese Taipei, USA, Latvia, Estonia, Trinidad and Tobago, and now, India courtesy of Neeraj Chopra.
